A riddle.

[mirandaod]

My husband heard this on a BBC program a couple of nights ago, and it's been driving us nuts ever since. Can one of you geniuses answer this:

Three men have dinner in a restaurant. The waiter gives them a bill for 30 pounds. They each pay 10 pounds to the waiter. The waiter takes the 30 pounds to the cashier, and the manager informs him that he's overcharged the customers - the bill is only 25 pounds. The waiter figures the customers don't know they've been overcharged, so he gives each man back 1 pound, and keeps 2 pounds for himself. So each of the 3 paid 9 pounds, 27 pounds in total. The waiter has 2 pounds. 27 + 2 = 29. Where is the other pound?

[mcscajun]

1. The problem is in paying attention to this:

27+2=29. Don't.

It's got nothing to do with the money.

Think about it.

[auntAgonist]

2. well

It's all in the way it is phrased i think

the fact that 3 X 9 = 27 has no bearing on the actual figures payed.

Its 30 - 25 = 5

5 - 2 = 3 (money back)

[dbonds]

3. Misdirection

When the waiter gives back the 3 pounds to the customers that makes what they have paid as 27 pounds (30 - 3), the extra 2 that the waiter keeps is the balance between 25 and 27. So to take the 9x3 number (27) and add back in the 2 pounds is wrong, you need to add back in the 3 pounds given back to the customers.

[mirandaod]

6. You smart.

That makes the most sense to us. Thanks.

[madinmaryland]

4. Ummm. . .

So each of the 3 paid 9 pounds, 27 pounds in total. The waiter has 2 pounds. It should be "27 - 2 = 25" The last question "Where is the other pound" is incorrect.

[XNASA]

5. Nothing is missing.

27 Pounds for the meals and waiter + 3 pounds change = 30 pounds

Individually........... each meal cost 8.3333 pounds, then add the .66666 pound that the waiter kept, then add 1 pound refunded = 10 pounds.

[In Truth We Trust]

7. Check with Haliburton; I think Arthur Anderson or Enron might be worth a

look too. Maybe it's in Chimpy's budget cuts to the poor and middle class. Another spot to check is Armstrong Williams or perhaps G/G.